DOH Sec Duque lauds the efforts of blood donors, calls them life savers

CITY OF MALOLOS – Department of Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque was all praises to the blood donors who were recognized during the Blood Galloners Awarding Ceremony held at The Pavilion in Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center here, Thursday morning and called them life savers.

With the theme “Be there for someone else. Save life. Give blood.” Sec. Duque acknowledged the invaluable contributions of blood donors and the importance of giving blood in order to save lives.

“We are immensely grateful to our blood donors for your voluntary and sincere effort to be of help to those in need. You truly are heroes in the lives of your recipients. Sa iba pa, let us continue to imbibe the spirit of bayanihan and be instrumental in saving more lives through blood donation,” Duque said.

He also commended the Bulacan Provincial Blood Center for its 24/7 operation and its capability to supply clean and safe blood for the Bulakenyos.

Also, Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado related blood to significant events and enumerated how it affected the lives of people.

“Ang dugo ay kalayaan, dahil hindi mabilang na Pilipino ang nag-alay nito upang makamit ang kalayaang matagal nating ipinaglaban, dugo rin ang ibinuhos at ibinahagi ng ating Panginoon upang tubusin ang ating mga kasalanan. Ngayon nama’y muli natin itong pinaaagos upang pagningasin ang alab ng buhay na nananamlay sanhi ng karamdaman,” Alvarado said.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Government of Bulacan through the Bulacan Blood Council recognized the Top 3 Provincial Voluntary Blood Donation Program Achievers namely Plaridel through Mayor Jocel Aimee Vistan-Casaje, San Ildefonso through Mayor Carla G. Tan and the City of San Jose del Monte through Mayor Arturo Robes. These three awardees were also awarded as Blood Partner Awardees by the Province of Bulacan.

For the Top 3 Local Government Units with High Numbers of Mobile Blood Donation conducted by Bulacan Provincial Blood Center, the municipalities of Plaridel and Marilao and the City of San Jose del Monte were recognized.

Also awarded were the Vice Governor’s Office and Damayang Filipino Foundation, Holy Spirit Academy of Malolos and Municipality of Santa Maria as the Top 3 Largest Blood Donation in a Single Collection while Bulacan State University, Ang Dating Daan-Bulacan and Fisher Farm were recognized as the Top 3 Partners with High Numbers of MBD conducted.

Moreover, 156 Blood Galloners were acknowledged for having donated blood for nine to 10 times and 11 bronze blood awardees who have voluntarily donated blood for 25 times already.

“Alam ko na sa bawat dugo na ibinahagi ko, may buhay akong nailigtas, kaya hanggang kayo ko, hanggang pwede ako, magdo-donate ako,” Florencia Pahati, a bronze blood awardee, said in response to the question, why do you donate your blood.